Conveyer drive



April 22, 1952 c. MATTHEWS ET AL CONVEYER DRVE Filed April 14, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Char/es Matthews Harve)I M. Wenger By Q and NN T m .NN N 5;; Tv 0 .|ql. 5i A. e ,Hlflhnl N l I wm a mw April 22, 1952 c. MATTHEWS ET Al.

CONVEYER DRIVE 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED As'ra'res PATENT' OFFICE CONVEYER DRIVE Charles Matthews and Harvey M. Wenger, East Earl, Pa., assignors to Terre Hill Machine Co. Inc., Terre Hill, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvVania Application April 14,:1e4aseria1N0. 87,472

This invention relates to new and useful im- ,provernents'a'nd structural refinements lin apmanure collecting channel, so that the material accumulated in the channel is propelled bythe l cleaning or sweeping elements to a suitable outlet opening.

An important feature of the invention resides v,in the particular structural arrangement of the cleaning or sweeping elements and ofthe actuating member therefor, while another feature of the invention resides in the provision of power driven means for reciprocating said member.

Some of the advantages of the invention lie in its simplicity of construction, in its adaptability to economical manufacture, and in its adaptability to installation in barns of diierent sizes and types.-

`With the above more important objects and `features in View, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention installed in a barn;

Figure 2 is atop plan view thereof but with the cover of the actuating mechanism removed so as to reveal its construction;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

.Figurev 4v is a cross-sectional View, taken substantially` in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional `detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6-6 in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a modified drive mechanism such as may be used in the invention, and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line ll--S of Figure 7.

1 claim, (or. 'i4-31) Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in the specification andthrough'- out the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, more particularly to Figures 1-6 thereof, the invention consists yof a barn cleaning apparatus designated generally by the reference character it, the same being intended for use in a barn having a oor l2 provided with a manure collecting channel l extending horizontally past the stalls I6 and terminating at one end thereof in an outlet opening located, for example, at i8, in

Figure 1. c s c The apparatus I0 embodies in its construction a reciprocable, preferably channel-shaped member 20= which is slidable longitudinally inythe channel I4, the member 2B preferably being disposed at one side of the channel and being provided with a plurality of swingable sweeping or cleaning elements 22. These elements simply assume the form of plates which are horizontally disposed and are pivotally attached at one end thereof to the member 20 by suitable pins 24, the elements 22 being engageable at one end edge thereof with the member 2U as is best shown in Figure 6, thus providing what may be referred to as a stop for supporting the elements in an operative position, substantially at right angles to the member 2B.

However, the elements or plates 22 may be swung to a non-operative position which is moreor-less parallel to the member 2l] as indicated at 26, and suitable stop screws 28 are provided on the plates 22, which stop screws, being engageable with the member 29, are used to adjust the extent of folding movement of the plates when the latter are swung to their non-operative position, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

As has been already stated, the member 20, together with the plates 22 is reciprocable in .the channel Hl, and it will be understood that when the member 20 is slid in the directionof the-arrow I8 toward the outlet opening, the Aplates or elements 22, being disposed substantially at right angles to the member 2i) and transversely of the channel I4, will sweep, so to speak, the bottom of the channel i4, thus propelling the manure and other waste therein toward the outlet opening. However, when the member 20 is slid in an opposite direction, that is, in the direction of the arrow 3G in Figure 1, the plates 22 will automatically assume a folded, inoperative -position indicated at 26, so that the manure will remain substantially undisturbed until the member 2i) is again slid in the direction of the outlet opening as indicated at I8. In this manner, intermittent, unidirectional propelling movement will be imparted to the manure by the plates 22, so that the manure will be ultimately discharged through the outlet opening of the collecting channel I4.

The adjustment facilitated by the stop screws 28 prevents the plates 22 from assuming a true, parallel position relative to the member 23 when the plates 22 are folded, so as to assure that the ,1

plates 22 are automatically returned to their operative position at right angles to the member 20 when the latter is moved in the direction of the arrow I8.

The mechanism for reciprocating the member 20 is disposed in a suitable housing 32 provided in the iioor I2 at one side of the channel I4, .the housing 32 preferably being equipped with a removable cover plate 34 so that access to the interior of the housing may be had. The cover a plate 34 is preferably iiush with the surface of the iioor I2 and if desired, the housing 32 may contain a quantity.T of oil to lubricate the mechanism therein.

The mechanism in the housing the form of a carriage 3S which is slidable in a pair of guides 3S, 49 secured to the bottom of the housing and to the cover 34, respectively, the carriage 36 simply assuming the form of a vertically disposed plate provided with a substantially vertical slot or opening 52. It is to be noted that the guides 38, il@ are substantially parallel to the channel I4, and the carriage 36 is also provided with a lateral extension it which projects outwardly through a longitudinally extending slot 46 provided in one side of the housing 32 and is downwardly angulated as at 4S so that it may be secured to the aforementioned member 20 by means of a screw Eil. As a result, reciprocating movement of the carriage 36 in the guides 38, 453 will be accompanied by a corresponding, reciprocating movement of the member 20 in the channel I4, as will be clearly understood.

A pair of trunnions 52 are secured in opposing relation to the sides of the housing 32 adjacent one end of the guides 38, 49, these trunnions carrying a pair of rotatable sprockets 54.

An additional pair of trunnions 5S are slidably mounted in suitable guides 53 provided in the housing 32 at the relatively opposite end of the guides 33, et, the trunnions 55 accommodating a pair of rotatable sprockets EQ, as is best shown in Figure 5. Endless chains 62 pass around the sprockets 54, Si), two of these chains being employed and each being disposed at one side of the guides 38, dil, and means are provided for adjusting the distance between the sprockets 54,V E0 so that the chains 62 may be maintained in a taut condition. These means simply assume the form of a pair of sector plates 6e which are pivoted as at 6E tosuitable brackets 63 provided in the housing 32, the sector plates 34 being operatively connected suitable links 'Iii to the trunnions 55 whereby the trunnions, together with the sprockets @il may be slid longitudinally in the guides 53 so as to increase or decrease the distance of the sprockets Se relative to the sprockets 54.

A pair of adjusting screws T2, having their heads disposed above the cover plate 34 oi" the housing 32, operatively engage screw-threaded bosses 'I4 pivoted to the sector plates 64, so that by simply adjusting the screws 'I2 the chains 62 may be loosened or tightened as desired.

A pin or shaft 'I6 extends transversely between the chains S2 and is secured at the ends thereof to the chains, the pin or shaft 'I6 carrying on an intermediate portion thereof a rotatable roller "I3 which is vertically slidable in the aforementioned slot ft2 of the carriage 35. Accordingly, when rotation is imparted to the sprockets 54, G and the chains 62 are motivated, the pin or shaft T6 will impart a reciprocating motion to the carriage 3b and to the aforementioned member 2li and the vertical movement of the pin 16, that is, from the bottom run to the top run of the chains 62 (and vice versa) will be simply absorbed in the slot i2 so that only horizontal reciprocating movement is imparted to the carriage and to the member 20.

The sprockets 54 are driven through the medium of suitable gears 80 which are rotatable on the trunnicns 52 with the sprockets 54, the gears 82 meshing with pinions 82 secured to a shaft 543 which extends transversely of the housing 32 and carries a bevel gear 86 meshing with a bevel pinion ttl This pinion is, in turn, operatively connected by means of a gear drive 96 to the armature shaft of an electric motor 92 which is preferably disposed in a suitable enclosure 94 on the cover plate 3ft of the housing 32.

A modified embodiment of the drive mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying Figures 7 and 8, this being intended to be operated by a remotely disposed power unit, such as for example, an internal combustion engine, the crankshaft of which is illustrated at I.

This crankshaft carries a disk Iil. to which is eccentrically connected as at EEK?. a fieXible drive cable ISS which may be passed over suitable guide pulleys IB and connected to an actuating rod IIB which projects outwardly through the cover plate 34 of the housing 32.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that rotary motion of the crankshaft Ill will result in a reciprocating movement of the rod llt, the latter being pivoted to a lever H2 which also carries a pawl I I4.

The pawl IIi operatively engages a ratchet IIS secured to a shaft IIS which is rotatable in the housing 32 and also carries a sprocket I20, the latter being operatively connected by means of a chain drive |22 to a further sprocket I2l provided on each of the trunnions 52. In other words, thechain drives |22 are duplicated, two sprockets |20 being secured to the shaft I I8, two chains |22 being employed and two sprockets |24 being utilized, each with one of the trunnions 52, as is best shown in Figure 8.

As will be readily understood, movement of the cable I 96 in the direction ofthe arrow |26 will rotate the ratchet HS and the sprockets IM in the direction of the arrow IZB. Conversely, a tension spring |39 which extends between the arm or link II2 and the bottom of the housing 32 will automatically return the link II2 to its starting position in readiness for the next actuation by the cable |06.

Finally, it may be explained that a socket I32 may be provided at one end of the housing 32 and arranged to rotate with the pinion 8S, the socket |32 being available as a power take-on for actuating various machinery around the barn, such as for example, a conveyor (not shown) for delivering manure discharged from the channel I4 to a litter carrier or a manure spreader.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that mino'r changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

In a mechanism for convertingl rotary to reciprocating motion, the combination of a horizontally elongated housing provided with a longitudinally extending recess, a pairof coaxially spaced transverse shafts rotatablyllmounted in each end portion of said housing, "a pair of spaced sprockets secured to the respective` shafts in each pair, a set of endless chains extending between the pairs of shafts and engaging'said sprockets, a pair of vertically spaced guides provided in said housing -between the pairs of sprockets, a rotary f ing through and being vertically movable in said slot, an antifriction roller rotatable on said pin and engaging edges of the slot, and a driven member provided rigidly on said carriage and projecting outwardly from said housing through said recess for connection to an element which is to be reciprocated.

his CHARLES X MATTHEWS.

mark HARVEY M. WENGER. Witnesses to mark:

E. H. MILLER, A. J. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,065,746 Swanson June 24, 1913 1,497,406 Robertson June 10, 1924 2,351,183 Blackburn June 13, 1944 2,374,215 Korenyi Apr. 24, 1945 2.467-988 Petraske Apr. 19, 1949 

